The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Hon. Maxwell Ogiri, has appealed to members of the Fulani community to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands following the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State, Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed.
Ogiri made the appeal when he led a delegation of Idoma stakeholders on a condolence visit to the residence of the late Fulani leader at Onyagede in Otukpo Local Government Area. The delegation included the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Hon. Adole Sunday, Dr. Dickson Ako, activist Meddy Olotu, and other community leaders.
Addressing members of the bereaved family and the Fulani community, Ogiri described the killing as unfortunate and urged them to allow security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
“The evil has already been done. We pray that the good Lord will ensure that this evil does not go in vain,” Ogiri said.
He appealed to the leadership and members of the Fulani community to exercise restraint and encourage their children to remain calm, noting that security agencies are already handling the matter.
Ogiri stressed that the Idoma people had always maintained peaceful relations with other ethnic groups in the area and urged the Fulani community not to allow the actions of criminal elements to destroy the existing harmony.
“The Fulani community is here in Idoma land not because of war or conflict. I want our Fulani brothers and sisters to understand that the Idoma people are peace-loving and have always accommodated strangers living among them,” he stated.
He noted that every society has criminal elements and cautioned against generalizing the actions of a few individuals.
“We have bad elements among the Fulani, just as we have them among the Idoma. Their actions should not be used to judge entire communities,” Ogiri added.
The council chairman further conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family, praying for God’s comfort and strength during their period of mourning.
Responding on behalf of the family, the deceased’s eldest son, Muhammad Idris, appreciated the delegation for the visit and condolences but insisted that the family wanted justice for the late Fulani leader. He called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.
